Northwest Iowa child dies from injuries in alleged abuse case

Three-year-old Autumn Elgersma was hospitalized on Tuesday with serious head injuries, including a fractured skull and brain trauma. Iowa DCI agents were called as hospital officials suspected child abuse.

Investigators say the girl’s daycare provider, 33-year-old Rochelle Sapp of Orange City, initially claimed the girl fell down stairs in her home, but she later admitted to throwing the child to the floor. The girl died Thursday.

Sapp is facing felony charges of willful injury and child endangerment resulting in serious injury at this time, but according to Orange City Police Chief Dan Pottebaum, in light of the fact that Elgersma has now died, the charges will be updated.